Setting up Flask locally — Windows🔖

You need to install three things. Do them in order.

1. Install Python🔖

Go to python.org/downloads and download the latest Python 3 Windows installer.

Run it.

Click Install Now and let it finish.

To check it worked, open the Start menu, search for cmd, and open Command Prompt. Type:

python --version

You should see a version number like Python 3.13.x. If you get an error, the PATH checkbox was missed.

2. Install Git🔖

Go to git-scm.com/download/win and download the installer.

Run it. All default options are fine — keep clicking Next. This also installs Git Credential Manager, which handles your GitHub login so you never need to type passwords or set up SSH keys.

3. Install VS Code🔖

Go to code.visualstudio.com and download the Windows installer. Run it. Default options are fine.

Open VS Code. Click the Extensions icon on the left sidebar (four squares). Search for Python and install the extension by Microsoft.

Connect to GitHub🔖

In VS Code, click the Source Control icon on the left sidebar (the branch icon). Click Clone Repository, then Clone from GitHub.

A browser window will open asking you to sign into GitHub. Use your school Google account. Come back to VS Code when it's done.

A dropdown shows your repos. Select the one you want to work on. When VS Code asks where to save it, Desktop is fine. Click Open when prompted.

Install Flask and run your app🔖

In VS Code, open Terminal → New Terminal.

Type this and press Enter:

pip install -r requirements.txt

When it finishes, type:

flask run --debug

You should see output ending in something like Running on http://127.0.0.1:5000. Open Chrome and go to localhost:5000.

The --debug flag means Flask watches your files. Every time you save app.py, the server restarts automatically — you can see it happen in the terminal. You do not need to stop and restart it yourself while you work.

If you close the terminal or restart VS Code, run flask run --debug again to start the server. Your code is always saved separately.

Saving your work🔖

The Source Control panel works the same way it did in Codespaces:

1. Write a short message describing your change
2. Click Commit
3. Click Sync Changes

Your work is saved to GitHub.